Tuesday, January 28, 2014

It is rare that you can combine positive and reality star in the same sentence. However, Jewel Tankard, star of Bravo's "Thicker Than Water: The Tankards," has a positive family show that has millions watching.

﻿﻿"Thicker Than Water" follows Jewel and her husband, former professional basketball player and an American gospel-jazz musician, Ben Tankard, and their children through their day to day life.

Jewel is a multi-millionaire, author, and also co-pastor of a non-denominational church in Murfreesboro. She uses her experiences and faith-based inspirations to mentor and lead at the Destiny Center.

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She has motivational workshops, which she says provide her audience with the tools and personal development needed to be successful throughout their personal and business adventures.

Jewel will be at Vol State to speak this Wednesday, January 29 at 12:30pm and again at 7:00pm in the Wemyss Auditorium in Caudill Hall. Both events are free and open to everyone.

Mongolian exchange students and their professor, meet with Vol State President, Dr. Jerry Faulkner

One of the great things about Vol State is the opportunities that are available to students. We can travel abroad, connect with students from different cultures, through clubs like VISA, and meet students that are visiting campus from an exotic country, such as Mongolia.

Five students, Bulgansumiya Mungundul, Urtnasan Ariunbold, Naranbat Erdenetsogt, Narangarav Erdenechuluun, and Sosorburam Bayaraa, along with a faculty member Unur Sukhbaatar, have been visiting for the last two weeks. They are from the Institute of Finance and Economics (IFE) in the city of Ulaanbaatar. It's one of the largest higher education institutions in Mongolia, offering bachelor's and master's degree programs.

While visiting Tennessee, the group stayed with Vol State host families. The Mongolians have been introduced to not only American Culture,but also traditions in Nashville.

"We have visited the Country Music Hall of Fame,I thought that it was very pretty in Nashville,"said Bulgansumiya Mungundul. "There is so much food to choose from, it's a lot on one plate," she said laughing.

The students were able to visit with several different clubs on campus

While attending Vol State, they were able to visit with different student organizations learning about each club's by-laws, policies, and the constitution for that club.

They learned about how Student Services here worked, versus how their campus operated in Mongolia.

"On our campus in Mongolia, we have similar buildings. We call a cafeteria,"The Canteen" and all of our services are in one building versus spread out," said student Narangarav.

When asked what they have enjoyed most about the trip thus far, each student simply replied "Our host families." It shows how important host families are for these international visits. It has been tough getting Vol State employees to host visitors. While it may be a mental hurdle to get over having strangers stay in your home, for those who have done it, there are many rewards, not the least of which is making new friends.

"We have learned a lot about this country and the importance of family through our host families," said Urtnasan. "The unity and love that they have for their children is really amazing."

The group and I talked about all the "fun" places that they have visited. The went underground at Mammoth Cave National Park, rode go-carts, went bowling, and experienced American shopping malls.

"In Mongolia, we love American Music. We listen to a lot of Eminem, Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus, and Rihanna. A lot of American Music is a big influence in our country," said Sosorburam Bayaraa.

The students say that they found a second family in their host families, and many friends here at Vol State. They returned to Mongolia last week.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

You may have heard that the Vol State smoking policy has changed, starting this semester. The campus is now smoke-free, with the exception of parking lots, and even then the smoker must be 50 feet from all buildings. The new policy is in effect now. Smokers will find butt receptacles in the parking lot areas that mark the borderline for smoking. It is hoped that the parking lot allowance will help those people who smoke, while making the overall campus a cleaner environment for those who do not.

Police and Vol State employees will warn smokers who are violating the policy. Smokers who throw butts on the ground can expect a fine if they are caught.

For more information on the policy, please visit a special web page on the subject. It has a link to the entire policy and resources for those who are interested in quitting smoking.

Monday, January 13, 2014

We look forward to seeing the Vol State campus
bustling and busy soon as the spring semester gets underway. Here are a few
things to keep in mind this semester:

-We have a new building open on campus. It’s called
Wallace South and it's next to the original Wallace Health Sciences building. Wallace South is the new home to EMS, Ophthalmic, Sonography, Medical Laboratory Technology and
Sleep Diagnostics.

-Parking behind the Wallace South building is
faculty, staff and disability accessible only. The H and G lots are open to
students. They are quite large and a short walk from Wallace, Mattox and
central campus.

-To help give students more spaces the Library
parking lot has been converted to general parking with the exception of some
staff spaces. The parking spaces near the Library and directly across from
Mattox are also now general parking

-The new campus map is available online. New
students may want to print it up. As always, please give yourself extra time on
the first few days of classes to find parking and get acclimated.

-If you’re expecting a financial aid refund in the
spring, please note the new way to choose how you would like to receive your
money. You can now make your selection through the Vol State portal. Visit this link for instruction. Call the business office at 615-230-3585 if you have any
questions.-Monday, January 20th is the MLK, Jr. Holiday. There will not be any classes and the campuses will be closed.

-And finally, a reminder that we have a new smoking
policy on campus. Smoking is now only allowed in parking lots and at least 50
feet from all buildings. You will notice receptacles for cigarette butts at
these locations. Please use them or risk a fine for littering.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Did you order any presents on Amazon.com this year?
If so, you probably had some help from Vol State students along the way. There
is a new distribution center in Murfreesboro and several Vol State students
work there, especially students in our Logistics and Supply Chain Management
program. What is logistics? It’s how things move, whether it be packages, trucks
or ships, logistics professionals make it happen. And that’s why we’re proud to
say that Alex Esper, a Vol State logistics student, has been named Amazon.com
Employee-of-the-Month for November 2013 for the Murfreesboro Fulfillment
Center. Alex, a US Navy Veteran, began as a Vol State LGM Student in Spring
2013, and hopes to complete his LGM Technical Certificate for Spring 2014.

November is one of the most challenging months of
the year for Amazon.com, so for Alex to be named Employee-of-the-Month for
November is a huge achievement for him. Congrats Alex!

The Vol State INFS111 Android class recently
finished a new version of "Campus Hound". It's a student-designed
mobile app that can help students with campus information, a mobile map etc. It
gives you some features from the website, but inmobile format.
This is a student designed app. The official Vol State mobile app is coming
soon and the web site currently has a mobile friendly version.
HEY I HAVE AN ANDROID PHONE. HOW DO I GET CAMPUS HOUND? You can look for it in the Google Play Store by searching for CampusHound. This is the direct link.
WILL IT WORK ON MY ANDROID TABLET?
Yes. But you won't find it in the Google Play Store because a tablet
technically can't make phone calls and the Campus Hound App has that ability.
However, if you have an Android Tablet and want a copy of Campus Hound, send me
an email. I can send you the APK to install directly on your tablet. I'm
running it on my Nexus tablet and it works great…even prompts me to use Skype
to make the calls.
IS THERE AN IPHONE VERSION?
Sorry, no. This is an Android course. Tech note for iPhone/iPad Fans: Programming
for the iPhone/iPad would be a completely different, more advanced course.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FEATURES OF CAMPUS HOUND 2.0?
• Find your way around the Vol State Campus with interactive maps that you can
browse by building. Locate classes and offices easily.
• Use the Campus Directory to locate all departments and offices. With one
touch you can find their location or dial the phone number.
• Stay up-to-date with Campus Happenings, Student Life and Events Calendars.
Follow Vol State’s Social Media sites; Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and
more.
• View the Vol State catalog, log onto your online classes, go to the Library’s
website, and view an up-to-date list of FAQs.
• Voice activated search feature that allows you to type or speak the item you
are looking to find.
• Access to security services offered on campus and Campus Safety Tips.
Includes a link to sign up for Emergency Text Alerts.
• Automatically updates news feeds, directory, calendar, links and FAQs for the
latest information available from Vol State’s website.
WHAT STUDENTS DEVELOPED VERSION 2.0? There were two student groups that worked on competing apps this semester. As
in the past, the students did all the programming, created all the graphics and
provided all the marketing verbiage. The winning app was developed by the following Vol State Student Team:
• Julia Briley (team leader)
• Mike Martone (lead programmer)
• David Cothern
• Austin Fromm

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

update 3pm: They have just decided that due to the weather the Business Office will close at 4:30pm today, instead of 5:30pm as previously announced. However, they will now accept fee payments tomorrow (Wednesday) until 3 p.m., either in person or by phone with credit card. People will not be dropped from classes if they pay fees by 3pm tomorrow, January 8.

A reminder that fees for spring classes are due today. If you have financial aid it will automatically be applied later today. You can view it on My Vol State. If you owe money, and have not paid by 5:30pm today, you will be dropped from your classes. We don't want to see that happen- so please visit the Business Office today. They are open until 5:30pm. They can also take your credit card over the phone. If you need help with an installment plan you can call the Business Office at 230-3585 to see if you qualify.Students registering for classes from here forward will need to pay their fees when they register. Classes start January 16.

Monday, January 6, 2014

A reminder: Vol State offices, all locations, will be closed Thursday, January 9 for Professional Development. The Gallatin Bookstore will be open Thursday, despite other college offices being closed. Bookstore hours Thursday are 8am to 6pm, normal hours Friday and 9am to 2pm Saturday. The Highland Crest bookstore will also be open Thursday 9am to 2pm. The Livingston Bookstore will be open the first day of classes.

You can always get your books online. That includes students who are notified that they are eligible to charge books to their financial aid (that notification goes out via student email on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week).

Friday, January 3, 2014

If you are taking Vol State online classes this
coming semester there are some updates in the eLearn system. You'll be able to access
your online classes starting just after midnight on January 16. However, students should log in to
eLearn and check out the new and improved look and feel. There are videos and
step-by-step materials available right now in eLearn at the top of the page in
an area labeled: "New eLearn Navigation." Students can also go to our
YouTube Channel and check out the new system:http://www.youtube.com/VSDistanceLearning.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

We have a new building open on campus, called Wallace South. It's right next to the original Wallace building, now called Wallace North. The EMS, Ultrasound, Ophthalmic, Medical Laboratory Technician, and Sleep Diagnostic programs have moved into the new Wallace south building. If you need to see faculty or staff for those programs please go to Wallace South.